Shore Power
- Thread starter Moot
- Start date
idtrans
Expert Expediter
I had a vanner tell me once in Laredo he trys to park in malls way out by bushes or trees that they have live outlets he plugged into when the xmas trees lights are not out.
He didn't like it when I said hope you dont get caught would suck to goto prison for using electricity.
He didn't like it when I said hope you dont get caught would suck to goto prison for using electricity.
That set up looks like the one I saw in NC. Their website doesn't show a location where I thought I saw it though.
From what I could find on their site, it looks like they charge $1.17/hr. That's not as bad as I thought. It is $28/24hrs though.
Yep..it is called theft.....and I've seen a few do it....one day a member will come in hopping mad because he/she was charged by a cop...
It is not yours, you are not entitled to it...it is theft....keep your 3 prong plug out of where it does not belong...
Probably dont take in much boob tube. You could hire that guy who traned the guinea pigs to row a small boat in a pan of water to power his computer. Ah maybe not it would take him to long to teach that many guinea pigs how to say row.
I really think purchasing shore power at truck stops or even rest areas would be a good idea. Especialy for some of the states that are hard up for cash ie California, Michigan, etc etc.
I really think purchasing shore power at truck stops or even rest areas would be a good idea. Especialy for some of the states that are hard up for cash ie California, Michigan, etc etc.
cableguymn
Seasoned Expediter
My luck I'd pay for a day of electricity and get dispatched 10 minutes later.
Then again.. If Murphy works that way, it might not be a bad thing.
Then again.. If Murphy works that way, it might not be a bad thing.
yep...go rent a room...see how fast dispatch calls...LOL
I've had that happen three different times
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60MPH
Expert Expediter
There is a few places I park that have outlets. All you have to do is ask the manager on duty, worst thing he can say is no. Sometimes I slide them five or ten dollars depending on how long I will be there. Most times they do not charge me. I even do it at customers if they are holding me up and they don't seem to mind as long as you ask first.
I carry 2 100' ext. cords. seems to have been enough thus far. If they say no I just whip out the Honda and fire her up
. Luckily I move enough to keep my deep cycles charged so I don't have to rely on shore power so often.
I carry 2 100' ext. cords. seems to have been enough thus far. If they say no I just whip out the Honda and fire her up
. Luckily I move enough to keep my deep cycles charged so I don't have to rely on shore power so often.
BigCat
Expert Expediter
I agree turtle but we are all assuming this guy didn't ask first. I'm saying if you have permission from management they may only have a problem with guys backing right up to the building.
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I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=41.616640,-90.779345
Shorepower
Active Expediter
Here's a quick link to our current sites and our future sites. (a Google map) Sorry that the map is buried on our site, I'll have to fix that. The new sites should be up and running by the end of this year. Our rate is $1 an hour.
Here's a link to a DOE website that has many trucks stops that have some kind of Truck Stop Electrification service like ours or Idle Air's or some other competitors. I'm not sure how up to date it is, but it will show you where our competition is located so you can take full advantage of their service as well, if you want to.
Cascade Sierra Solutions is offering rebates for equipment that you can use to plug into any 110v outlet. One of the rebates they have, that does not seem to be posted on their site is for a $200 Wiring kit. The kit is free, the only cost would be the 1 hour install charge. Many cabs already have it direct from the OEM, but for those who need to run the extension cord through the window, this kit would let you have between 4 and 6 110V outlets in the cab and plug the extension cord to an outside (RV style) connector. If you ask Cascade directly they should be able to give you the details.
One area that we are currently seeking advise on is on how driver's like to pay. Do most drivers prefer to use a credit card / fuel card or is cash better? Because there will be situations like the one described earlier (a driver getting dispatched before they use the time they paid for), we want to make it as easy as possible to credit the driver back. The better we understand how drivers prefer to pay, the better we can design our upgraded payment system. Any and all advise is welcomed. Thank you in advanced.
Monty
Expert Expediter
Thanks for joining in ShorePower.
I also, being a driver of a Sprinter van would wonder if the "big boys" would be aggravated with a van taking a parking space, if parking is already limited.
One thought might be to contact Petro/TA, they have desiginated parking for expediters in vans and straight trucks. Maybe electrify those spots?
I would suggest simple 30amp service, such is available at the campgrounds, and hey, if you wish to throw in cable tv ... well that's even better, but certainly not required. I just need a plug!
I also, being a driver of a Sprinter van would wonder if the "big boys" would be aggravated with a van taking a parking space, if parking is already limited.
One thought might be to contact Petro/TA, they have desiginated parking for expediters in vans and straight trucks. Maybe electrify those spots?
I would suggest simple 30amp service, such is available at the campgrounds, and hey, if you wish to throw in cable tv ... well that's even better, but certainly not required. I just need a plug!
Thank you to ShorePower for participating in the discussion.
I feel that the $1/ hr is a good target. If you sell your service with cash or prepaid cards like IdleAire did when they first started, you will have to have some way for a person to use up any unused time that they have available to them. That time needs to be available at other locations, not just where they purchased it. Personally, I prefer the credit card method that is available with IdleAire presently. You swipe your card and turn the unit on. When you shut the unit off, it calculates usage and charges the card for the exact amount you used. In my opinion, it just doesnt get any simpler than that. There may be drivers that prefer cash payment and in that situation, I would just have a prepaid card available. The prepaid card would provide the portability you need also.
Here is my opinion on what HAS to happen before ANY of these systems can be an effective alternative that truckers can rely for the majority of their layover power. They absolutely have to be available at every truckstop in the nation. Here's the deal. I cant drive 50 miles to get to your services. The cost of getting there is going to at least double the cost of using the product which means that I would still need to have an APU. If I have the APU, there is a lot less chance of me using your service. If, in the future, this type of service is available in All areas then we could rely more heavily on TSE and get rid of the APU's which have been an expensive and troublesome power solution for many.
I understand that it takes time and money. I think the investment curve is very steep. You will have to get this service in a LOT of truckstops before drivers begin to see it as a viable option. Until then, you will only have occasional users. Once it is available everywhere, I think it will be the obvious choice and we can begin to rely on TSE for our power needs.
I feel that the $1/ hr is a good target. If you sell your service with cash or prepaid cards like IdleAire did when they first started, you will have to have some way for a person to use up any unused time that they have available to them. That time needs to be available at other locations, not just where they purchased it. Personally, I prefer the credit card method that is available with IdleAire presently. You swipe your card and turn the unit on. When you shut the unit off, it calculates usage and charges the card for the exact amount you used. In my opinion, it just doesnt get any simpler than that. There may be drivers that prefer cash payment and in that situation, I would just have a prepaid card available. The prepaid card would provide the portability you need also.
Here is my opinion on what HAS to happen before ANY of these systems can be an effective alternative that truckers can rely for the majority of their layover power. They absolutely have to be available at every truckstop in the nation. Here's the deal. I cant drive 50 miles to get to your services. The cost of getting there is going to at least double the cost of using the product which means that I would still need to have an APU. If I have the APU, there is a lot less chance of me using your service. If, in the future, this type of service is available in All areas then we could rely more heavily on TSE and get rid of the APU's which have been an expensive and troublesome power solution for many.
I understand that it takes time and money. I think the investment curve is very steep. You will have to get this service in a LOT of truckstops before drivers begin to see it as a viable option. Until then, you will only have occasional users. Once it is available everywhere, I think it will be the obvious choice and we can begin to rely on TSE for our power needs.
Thanks for joining in ShorePower.
I also, being a driver of a Sprinter van would wonder if the "big boys" would be aggravated with a van taking a parking space, if parking is already limited.
One thought might be to contact Petro/TA, they have desiginated parking for expediters in vans and straight trucks. Maybe electrify those spots?
I would suggest simple 30amp service, such is available at the campgrounds, and hey, if you wish to throw in cable tv ... well that's even better, but certainly not required. I just need a plug!
I vote on everything he says....times 10!
I would like to see a full range of tv and movies available, but it has to be an option. If I only need power today, I dont want to be forced into buying power+tv+etc, etc. Sell me the basic need, then allow me to customize my own upgrades.
Well, one can live without any of it but it's almost mandatory to have air condition and heat. I'd rather see more locations set up with just the shore power to run the a/c and heat than fewer locations that include video and internet. Once the network is broad enough with power then if you want to go back and add options go ahead, as long as it doesn't raise the price for the basic power service.
One of the biggest potential problems I saw with the tse terminals was that the terminals I saw were placed right next to the parking slot for the t/t's. I just can't imagine them surviving there for any length of time. If you put them behind the parkin space, you have to allow for overhang of the trailers and even the oversize loads that have a lot of overhang. It seems that Idleaire had the best place...all overhead, but that has got to be some expensive infrastructure. Safety has to be a concern also for the terminals located in areas where they could be damaged.
